The Advantages of an Agricultural Conference.

Now, seeing that many of us who are gathered here to-day have few opportunities of doing as I have suggested, and in fact scarcely see each other more than perhaps at some of our large shows, where we are all either hard at work, or busily engaged taking fullest advantage of seeing the exhibits, then I would ask is it possible that a few days could now be better spent than in carefully discussing the subjects placed upon our order-paper? As I had the honour of presiding over the last Conference, held in Christchurch two years since, it has fallen to my lot, with the assistance of Messrs Grigg and Rhodes and our secretary, Mr Murphy, to arrange the business for this Conference now being held under the auspices of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and I sincerely hope that our order paper, though not containing all the subjects submitted to us will meet with your general approval; and before asking you to proceed with the election of your chairman, which will be the next business, I will encroach a little upon your patience whilst touching upon some items affecting the past two years.